Worldwatch is taking a dim view of Japan’s whaling proposal coming up at the International Whaling Commission’s meeting in 12 days:
The March 6-8 gathering, titled "The Future of the IWC," will prepare IWC member states for their annual meeting in Chile this June. Delegates at the June conference will likely face considerable pressure to produce an agreement on the future of whaling, particularly in light of rising catches by Japan and other countries.
"There has been an expansion of scientific whaling and whaling by objection, by number and species, and that’s worrisome,"said Doug DeMaster, a marine mammal biologist and the acting commissioner for the March meeting’s U.S. delegation. "The IWC isn’t managing commercial whaling. It isn’t doing a good job of that now."
The international community agreed in 1982 on a global moratorium on commercial whaling, but previous accords allow whaling if conducted "for the purpose of scientific research." During the 2005—06 hunting season, Japan captured at least 800 minke whale, double the number from a decade earlier. This season, on top of the minke harvest, Japan had planned to catch 50 humpback whales and 50 fin whales, but it agreed to halt the humpback hunt due to mounting international pressure.
Japan is advocating for a change in the IWC’s so-called Revised Management Scheme that would allow for "sustainable" whaling. With most whale populations still recovering from severe losses in the 19th and 20th centuries, no such management plan currently exists. According to the Japanese, science-based whaling is needed to research whales’ ages, population size, and diets.
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jillian compiled two thick batches of environmental stories in BREAKING!...the Earth (TGIF Version): "Automakers expect presidential fuel fight. No matter the outcome of the presidential election on Nov. 4, one thing is clear: the next president is certain to tangle with the auto industry. Detroit News. Chile government hands out water in major drought. Chile is suffering its worst drought in decades, and the government is handing out emergency drinking water along a quarter of the Andean nation's length as wells dry up. Reuters." And BREAKING!...the Earth (Good News Version!): "Using their bean. A Chicago-area utility will replace thousands of transformers using PCBs or mineral oil with new ones using soybean oil. They expect to reduce carbon emissions by more than 5,500 tons annually. Southtown Star."
ANIMALS
lineatus wrote Dawn Chorus Birdblog: Panoche Valley: "Anyone up for a day trip? Let's take a quick spin through the Panoche Valley. If you live in the Bay Area, Monterey, or Central Valley, you may already know about it. If you haven't heard of it, or if you're from elsewhere in the country and want to think about places to visit in California this is really a great spot for winter birding. The area is mostly ranchland, with a few small canyons mixed in. It has a very "old California" feel. In the mountains that border the valley, there was some mining - mostly mercury, if I'm not mistaken."
blue jersey mom substituted for lineatus today in Dawn Chorus Birdsong: Birds and Archaeology: "Good morning, fellow birdbloggers. I am substituting for lineatus this morning. While lineatus is an expert on bird feathers, I know more about birds with their feathers (and skins and muscles) removed. Follow me below the fold for some information about how birds, both domesticated and wild, were used by ancient societies."
Is Killing Animals a Necessary Qualification for POTUS? was the question Richard Cranium posed: "In an interesting election year revelation on Saturday, Hillary Clinton affirmed her support for gun ownership by trotting out her own past hunting experiences. What is it with politicians who feel that they have to prove they have the ability to kill something with a weapon? After the jump, let's explore why politicians feel they have to be able to prove they have what it takes to kill."
Mark H introduced us to echinoderms in the latest installment of his Marine Life Series: Aristotle's Lantern: "Sea urchins are Echinoderms, spiny-skinned animals related to starfish and sea cucumbers. Echinodermata is a rather small phyla of animals and is unique in that virtually all members of this group are strictly marine.
They also, as a group, employ nearly every type of feeding method exhibited by animals. Sea stars are predators, crinoids are filter feeders, as are some sea cucumbers. Many types of sea cucumbers are deposit feeders (swallowing sand, digesting the organic material and passing the undigestible bits). Sea urchins alone are mainly herbivores. The animal above is my local Purple Sea Urchin (Arbacia punctulata)."
moose67 lamented that the Bush Administration Okays Wolf Kill: "In spite of years - I mean decades - of work by wildlife biologists, the Bush administration has decided today to approve the hunting of up to 1200 wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies areas. Even though there are record numbers of elk in northern tier states, that are suffering from lack of food as well as disease, federal officials have decided to remove any protections from the primary preditors of these large herd animals.
sheddhead also took notice in his Diary, Action Needed: Save the Wolves: "Per The Missoulian, the federal protection will end in late March. Also per The Missoulian, the state of Montana had set Wolf Hunting Season even prior to the decision to end federal protection. The National Resources Defense Council Gray Wolf Action Page makes it easy for you to request that your Representative sign onto a letter drafted by Rep. Nick Rahall (WV) directing the administration to abandon the plan to remove endangered species protection."
FOOD, AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE
In today’s Diary, Frankenoid started her fourth year of Saturday Morning (Home And) Garden Blogging Vol. 4.1: "Good morning, and let's get ready for another year of playing in the dirt. Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Third Anniversary Edition! To recognize the "event", I'll be posting a few of my favorite pictures from over the last year. Denver's weather has been bouncing around like mad, and we haven't gotten a stretch of nice days yet. The first daffodils are in bloom. Sprinkles of johnny jump-ups all over. It's a beautiful morning, still a little too cool to work outside, but I'm syched — go out and clean up, plug some more bulbs in the ground, scatter poppy seeds, iPod blaring Grateful Dead in my ear." (Happy anniversary, Frankie.)
In Vegetables of Mass Destruction, OrangeClouds115 told us - David's Story (UPDATED): "Yesterday I spent an hour speaking with David, a former meatpacker at a Tyson hog plant in Iowa. The conversation left me near tears, and I wonder at how David has been able to pick himself up and move on - or for that matter, do anything other than curl up in a fetal position and cry. Before his brief career in meatpacking, David lived in Chicago. He told me the best job he could find was $7.50/hr and the work was not available daily. Each day a temp agency would tell him there was lots of work available tomorrow, so he would wake up for work at 4am. So would everyone else who needed a job. David realized he was getting screwed. Then David met a recruiter for the Tyson hog plant he eventually went to work for. "They sell you a nice dream," he said. For example, you don't have to work on your birthday and you'll be paid anyway. Or you can work that day for double pay. This and other benefits start once you are "qualified," i.e. pass a 90-day probationary period. David was fired on day 92."
FishOutofWater gave us another example of why you’re less and less likely to get rolled eyes and a chuckle when you tell someone you’re a vegetarian with the Diary Breaking: 143 million pounds of beef recalled by USDA: "Sick cattle destined for consumption in the school lunch program and fast food restaurants were forklifted in the slaughterhouse. Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts. It is illegal to use these ‘downer cows’ in the food supply because they are more likely to cause disease in humans than healthy cattle. However, the USDA hasn't reported any associated disease outbreaks with the recalled beef. ... I no longer eat any products, knowingly, that contain ground beef. Ground beef tends to get contaminated by modern processing and unhealthy cattle tend to get used in ground beef products. I have pretty much stopped eating beef and pork because the animal treatment is so horrid...and to keep my cholesterol and weight down. But this is the last straw."
Eternal Hope talked about the honeybee problem in One third of US food supply at stake: "The ice cream maker Haagen-Dazs is warning that one third of the US food supply is at stake because of the colony collapse disorder that has wiped out millions of bees around the world. This is the sort of thing that happens when we have a mentality that what is good for corporations is good for America."
Asinus Asinum Fricat discussed the likelihood that Food Prices to Go Through the Roof. Again: "Americans, Europeans and pretty much the rest of the world who dug deeper into their pockets for groceries last year will face sticker shock again this year when shopping for food. ‘There's going to be real food inflation in this country,’ C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive of U.S. beef processor Smithfield Foods Inc., said at the U.S. Agriculture Department's annual outlook conference. While the ethanol boom can be expected to bring higher incomes to farmers and reduce government outlays for farm programs, it also will contribute to higher crop and livestock prices. That is a given. How much more can the average consumer stand? I'm not sure, but we must remain vigilant. Start with examining closely all packages in supermarkets. Why?"
Johnny Venom pointed out that this may not be a temporary spike in Peak Food is now a reality: "Bloomberg today has a news piece worth reading. The CEO of Potash Corp, a Canadian business concern that produces fertalizer, phosphate, nitrogen and well...potash, was interviewed on Bloomberg and went on how agricultural development is not keeping up with demand. Indeed, perhaps many of times those of a more progressive perspective have been ringing the alarms, it seems the rest of us haven't been listening. Now as we see a jump in food prices, consumers will start to pay attention."
Stranded Wind looked at the same issue in Global grain shortage by 2009?: "This particular piece is just a tidbit integrating economic concerns with food security issues, but don't let the insubstantial nature fool you. They're not kidding when they say our global grain stocks are the lowest in sixty years: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/... http://buyerbehaviour.blogspot.com/... This is affecting us here in the developed world. If you go to the grocery and look it won't take too long for you to see the effect - a box that used to hold eight ounces of some product now holds seven ounces ... but remains the same size. The United States' government's CPI excludes food and energy and that is where the inflation is - inflation happening at Carter presidency like rates. We always hear plaintive cries at this point: ‘What can be done?’"
And HKHeadhunter pointed out an example of what’s happening in this regard in that fastest-growing of the world’s large economies in his Diary Eating bitterness: food price inflation in China: "I'm a recent expatriate to Hong Kong from the US, and given that the city is one of the most expensive in the world to live in, we do a lot of our grocery shopping at the "wet markets", the traditional street vegetable, fruit and meat markets that dot Hong Kong and make it such a colorful place to live....
Another alarming trend is a global spike in cooking oil prices, which has caused riots in China and elsewhere and has been exacerbated by increased demands for meat and ironically, for biofuel production. Rising fuel costs have made the transport of food expensive, and these increases are compounded by the need to use foodstuffs to make fuel. The consequences for the developing world are potentially dire."
ENERGY
Author and environmental contrarian Michael Shellenberger reinforced his own views with Solar Breakthroughs Needed, Says New UC-Berkeley Study: "After we published Break Through last fall we constantly heard from old-school environmentalists like the Center for American Progress blogger Joe Romm that we don't need technological breakthroughs. (Romm was careful to narrowly define ‘breakthrough’ as the invention of a brand new technology, even though we had explicitly defined it as ‘breakthroughs in performance and price.’) One of the chief barriers to dealing with global warming is that clean energy remains much more expensive than fossil fuels. As long as that remains the case, neither rich countries like the U.S. nor poor countries like China are going to move to clean energy sources any time soon. What to do? We argue that major federal investments in clean energy are required to scale up the technologies and bring down their price. Now a new report by UC-Berkeley's Severin Borenstein makes the same point."
joelado explored The Coming Oil Bubble: "There has been much speculation in the media and in the blog sphere that the price of oil today reflects a shortening of supply directly attributed to peak-oil having been reached. The interview with Jeroen van der Veer indicates something radically different is going on. My speculation is that he is right and that the consequences could be dire if unheeded."
mossbackfarm took exception to planned LNG pipelines in Oregon: "It's been popping up lately in the news here, but the proponents of some of these projects have been desperately trying to keep a lid on them. So, here's my brief take on the 2 proposed natural gas pipelines in Western Oregon (with the attendant LNG terminal). Oregon LNG and Palomar are two energy companies that are taking advantage of a ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that cuts out local input into the siting of these facilities. Welcome to democracy. There's a host of reasons that this is a bad idea for our area....I won't go into all of them, but briefly, Oregon's natural gas consumption is declining, pipelines are an undefendable terrorist magnet, and I watched Syriana."
Money talks. Coal walks? was one of A Siegel’s continuing looks at coal-fired power plants: "It isn't too often that I turn to the pages of the Wall Street Journal for good news, but rules are made to be broken. As per Wall Street Shows Skepticism over Coal, major banks, working with some environmental organizations (including, the much-maligned Environmental Defense), are imposing new environmental standards that will make it harder for companies to get financing to build coal-fired power plants in the U.S. The banks have made the judgment that CO2 emissions caps are inevitable and that the potential payment for pollution permits (note that both Senators Clinton and Obama support 100% auctioning of pollution permits) create a significant potential liability for coal-fired electricity plants. There are five key points to their new standards. Those seeking financing for coal fired-electricity plants will have to: Explore energy efficiency as an option to new power; Consider renewable energy; Assess the potential for carbon capture and storage; Provide ‘conservative’ estimates as to how many free pollution permits the plant owner might receive; Ensure that the plant can charge prices high enough to cover the cost of buying emissions allowance."
gmoke’s My Basic Solar Advice provided Kossacks who are just getting started at tapping into renewable resources some terrific first-round suggestions: "Here's the basic information I give people when they want to know about solar: First, reduce your load. Insulate, caulk, seal everything you can. Weatherize everything up the wazoo, even going so far as to get a blower door test - pressurizing your house with a large fan installed in the front door and having a professional go around finding where all the air leaks are. Get the most efficient appliances (refrigerators tend to be the largest electrical load in the house) and lights that you can find and afford and install them. When you've become as efficient and energy-conserving as you can be, then start thinking about solar. The cheapest solar is passive solar designed into the building. An old(er) but still very good book on the principles of passive solar is Ed Mazria's Passive Solar Energy Book. This will give you the basics of the theory which is, essentially, open the house up towards the south and the sun, provide for thermal mass to store the heat from the sunlight, add in ventilation to move the heated air around, and make sure that there are overhangs to shade the house from the sun during the summer months and prevent overheating."
gmoke also asked us to Critique "Solar on the Radio": "My interview on the Samantha Clemens show Saturday morning on WMFO went well or so I thought. However, I am notoriously biased when it comes to myself; so, if you want to listen to the interview and tell me what I did wrong and what I could do better in case another opportunity to open my big mouth before a radio microphone comes around, I'd appreciate it. The interview can be heard at http://samanthaclemens.com/... I'm especially interested in whether people think my position makes sense and can cut out some of the stale back and forth that usually happens when people start talking about climate change, environment, and renewables."
Eddie C pointed us to a plan for Going Green with Nuclear Powered Gasoline Factories?: "Tomorrow two scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, F. Jeffrey Martin and William L. Kubic Jr., will go to the Alternative Energy Now conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. to present another answer to global warming that will keep our gas guzzlers on the road. The concept Would Turn Greenhouse Gas Into Gasoline – The idea is simple. Air would be blown over a liquid solution of potassium carbonate, which would absorb the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be extracted and subjected to chemical reactions that would turn it into fuel: methanol, gasoline or jet fuel. This process could transform carbon dioxide from an unwanted, climate-changing pollutant into a vast resource for renewable fuels. The closed cycle — equal amounts of carbon dioxide emitted and removed — would mean that cars, trucks and airplanes using the synthetic fuels would no longer be contributing to global warming. Not as far fetched as it sounds but there are many hurdles and more that a few drawbacks."
Redwoods versus Solar Power was the bait for LtdEdishn’s Diary: "Just as are most of us, I am a huge fan of solar power. I only wish I could afford to totally transform my house into its own solar plant; but it is just not financially feasible.
Nonetheless, I am one of those who locally has been pushing for Florida Power and Light to increase its investment into solar and wind power. Several years ago, I wrote a letter published in a local paper that was noted by some of their public relations people. I suggested flooding the Everglades Agricultural Area and putting huge solar panels above the flooded area. Now, every time I attend a meeting they greet me and want to tell me about their latest renewable energy plans or investments, none of which incorporate my idea. I will say that my idea has been adopted and expanded upon by a local FAU College Professor for reasons I couldn't explain just because he understands the science of it all, while my concern was the Everglades and renewable energy."
Winter Rabbit was decidedly unhappy that Uranium Mining almost near Grand Canyon and is Elsewhere!: "Of course, the idea of uranium is being sold as if it were an absolute necessity. Do these companies really care about the beauty of the Earth Mother.
Stranded Wind discussed Peak Oil, Peak Gas, Peak ... Methanol?: "We at the Stranded Wind Initiative are working on using electricity produced via wind and other renewables in innovative ways, both for energy storage and manufacturing. Our first direct effort involves the funding of a wind driven ammonia system, as there is a large market for this fertilizer where our headquarters is located, but today we saw this - a validation of the idea that gas will peak as oil already has, reducing the availability of the fuel itself and vital finished products, too."
POLITICOS
Another way to save This Green Earth in U.S. Politics provided Eddie C’s take on what politicians talk big but act little when it comes to environmental policy: "Just like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, most representatives offer websites that are filled with promise but outside of the occasional half measure and a bunch of people standing next to charts on C-SPAN is there really a call to arms going on in this nation? It does seem sometimes that there has been nothing but good news for an oncoming environmental awareness that will drive the American economy forward but a disturbing special report in Business Week is casting some doubt. In America's Green Policy Vacuum the efforts of cities, states and venture capitalist get well deserved accolades but an argument is made that federal interest is so poor that America is falling behind. Are we waiting for the next Democratic nominee's promises only to be let down?"
Streetsmart complained The Environment - No One seems to Care: "Even the democratic candidates say nothing about the environment because there is nothing to say. The War in Iraq has faded and the economy seems to be somewhat of an issue. All around, there is basically lethargy. Bottom line seems to be that people are happy with what they have and where they are. Barack Obama is successful because he is basically a nice guy who would make a fine President. He will no doubt try to do nice things, but if he doesn't, it seems unlikely that many will get upset."
BadRabbit focused on the GOP in The Environment and Politics: "I don't understand why Republicans (in general) don't seem to give a shit about the environment. Ignore Al Gore and global warming, and at the end of the day, protecting our environment is still very important. Who doesn't want clean air and clean water?"
Several Diarists took note of the League of Conservation Voters Environmental Scorecard of politicians. ATL Dem pointed out that McCain's enviro score for 2007: 0 of 100: "One of Maverick McCain's selling points is that he bucked the Cheney wing of the GOP and has actually advocated action on climate change. By extension, he must not be so bad on the environment. Well, maybe Tweety will drill some hapless surrogate on this legislative record: According to the League of Conservation Voters, the Maverick scored a perfect zero on major environmental votes in 2007, including car-efficiency standards, renewable energy requirements for electrical utilities, oil subsidies, farm bill standards, and environmental standards for biofuels. This record put him in league with seven other GOP neanderthals: Roberts-KS, Vitter-LA, Cochran-MS, Lott-MS, Bond-MO, Inhofe-OK, and Cornyn-TX. Yes, even such backward GOPers as Ted Stevens, John Kyl, Larry Craig, and Saxby Chambliss scored better than McCain. Oh, Maverick! What's up with that?"
Others with various views on the scorecard were gloryous1 in McCain Scores a ZERO on the Environment, David Sandretti in LCV Releases Environmental Scorecard, and me in Thursday’s Night Owls & Early Birds thread.
Leftywingnut let us know he isn’t too happy with Obama & 1872 Mining Reform: "Many Kossaks probably know that hardrock mining--gold, uranium, silver, copper, etc.--is governed under law signed by President Grant in 1872. For the first time in decades, western communities, citizens, hunting and conservation groups all have an opportunity to reform our federal mining laws and bring them into the 21st century. The House passed reform last year, pushed by Chairman Rahall, and now its up to the Senate to follow suit. Unfortunately it faces a tougher road there, thanks in large part to Sen. Harry Reid and a few other western Blue Dogs. Worse yet, Sen. Obama--for whatever reasons--has come out AGAINST the House bill--which most conservation groups and other reform advocates strongly support."
POLLUTION
geodemographics wrote A primer on electronic waste in China: "The international trade in electrical and electronic waste is an important public policy issue that has serious ramifications for the environment and human health. Rapid advances in scientific innovation, spurred by high consumer demand for new and improved technologies, have created an unprecedented problem of disposal for obsolete electrical and electronic devices. Referred to as e-waste, these outdated products contain a diverse range of components that include everything from valuable precious metals to highly toxic chemical compounds. Structural inequalities in the global economic system, coupled with strong demand for raw materials in developing countries with export-based manufacturing sectors, have led to a situation in which a disproportionate burden of the human health and environmental costs of e-waste recycling are borne by poor workers employed in the informal sector, particularly in China."
GLOBAL WARMING
A Siegel took on what used to be the world’s largest car manufacturer in GM's Lutz: Global Warming "total crock of S--t!": "Should anyone wonder why General Motors is in such trouble? When a senior leader (Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman) states that Global Warming is a "total crock of S--t," might GM shareholders wonder what his core intellectual capacity is? Really, should a Corporate leader be spouting off on the record like that? If he is so fundamentally ignorant about a scientific issue (and willing to spout off on it!), what does that say about his basic competence to judge any issue before him? Now, to be clear, how ‘on the record’ was this? It was at a private lunch with: reporters! Now, much of Lutz' talk was about the Chevy Volt. Re the plug-in, hybrid electric Volt (PHEV -- with vehicle as last word, normally), Lutz said ‘I’m motivated more by the desire to replace imported oil than by the CO2 (argument).’ Guess what, I'm fine with that, although I wonder whether shareholders would be. How about pursuing the Volt because he believes it will propel GM to the top of the world's automotive scene and lead GM technology to displace inefficient internal combustion engines, SOON! That the Volt could make GM and GM shareholders a lot of money, while creating many good US jobs, and helping solve serious national and global challenges."
Steve Everett said he wants an alternative to a label he thinks isn’t tough enough, Global warming, nah? Global Climate UIDS (undesired impact destruction syndrome): "A column in today's New York Times challenged readers for alternative ways to describe what has been described to date as global warming. John Holdren from Harvard's science and technology department says he wants an alternative to the term global warming. Holdren says, ‘We’ve been almost anesthetized by this term,’ and he suggests global heating instead. This issue is as important to me as any so I've taken a few minutes to make a few suggestions of my own below. Some are somewhat in jest and somewhat admittedly over the top but I feel it's time, past time, to start getting aggressive in addressing the problem that could so drastically effect so many across the planet."
Target Global Warming declared that CNN Analyst Wrong on Climate Science, Wrong on "Where the Country Is": "Rarely has one political analyst gotten so much wrong in the span of one segment as Mary Matalin did on CNN Wednesday: MATALIN: Because [global warming is] a largely unscientific hoax. And it's a political concoction. BLITZER: But he believes with [Sen.] Joe Lieberman [I-CT] -- he's co-sponsoring legislation on that. MATALIN: He's going to have to put together an energy policy that has elements of conservation but productivity, and reduces our dependence on oil. He has said that. Some of the other issues, though -- BLITZER: But on global warming he's a true believer. MATALIN: But he's not going to prioritize that, because that's not where the country is right now. And you haven't heard him prioritizing that."
TheGreenMiles explained Why Climate Action Now Matters in My Backyard: "Imagine you're living in Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley is pushing a 90% cut in carbon emissions by 2050. Windmills are sprouting up like spring daffodils. Life is good. Now imagine you live within sight of Maryland in Virginia. Our governor is agnostic on a proposed coal-fired power plant that would spew 5.3 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air ever year. Our General Assembly won't even pass a renewable energy standard, never mind a bill mandating carbon emissions cuts. Even as we debate that new coal plant, federal legislation that will make it much more expensive to burn fossil fuels is barely even part of the discussion. It's easy to say in the abstract that when it comes to federal climate legislation, we should hold out another year for something better. But here in Virginia, will a year of waiting mean we're breaking ground on a new coal plant? Let's take a look at the cost of inaction in my backyard."
gmoke offered visual delight in The Art of Climate Change?: "A couple of weeks ago, I saw an article about a gallery show of six artists confronting climate change in the Boston Globe called ‘Greed, Guilt & Grappling: Six Artists Respond to Climate Change.’ The description of the pieces led me to believe that it wasn't what I was looking for - black footprints across the ceiling to represent our carbon footprints, an igloo of ice outside left to melt matched with an igloo of blackened wood inside the gallery, videos of people yawning as yawning supposedly cools the brain - fairly conceptual stuff."
friday durdikova noted that the Iditarod Sled Race Victim of Global Warming: "Yet another sad sign of the times... Citing a warming climate and sprawling development, officials with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race said they were implementing permanent logistical changes that in recent years have become the norm for the March event. The ceremonial start for the race in Anchorage, Alaska will go only 11 miles-- seven miles shorter than it usually is--and according to the Los Angeles Times, will be done on trucked in snow. The trucking in of the snow is kinda funny if you think about it. Using a dwindling precious resource to truck in another dwindling resource, the cause of which is the dwindling resource used to truck in the dwindling resource."
Geophysics doctoral student zackmann argued that Climate Change is a threat to Humans NOT the planet: "Climate Change threatens humans, not the planet. The Planet is not dying. We do not need to 'save our planet'. We need to save ourselves. I don't know if I can make this point clear enough. The planet has seen worse atmospheric conditions and will see worse in the future. It is the ability of humans to live comfortable on this planet that is in peril, not the planet itself."
GREEN PHILOSOPHY & MISCELLANY
Eddie C gave us the rundown on Our Green Economy and Their Corporate Catch Up (w/poll): "In a nation that gets very poor marks on the environment, it's not the states, nor the venture capitalist but our federal government that gets credit for America scoring 39th out of 149 countries and coming in dead last in the Group of 8 industrialized nations. Of course either Democratic candidate will bring about vast improvements but in my extensive diary on Congressional drawbacks I listed the corporate media as another shoe in the works.This morning there was a sign of improvement in both the corporate media and corporate America. Harry Smith had a guest on The Early Show to discuss some of the good news. While the interview was nowhere near as impressive as yesterday's feature in The New York Times when the question CAN Silicon Valley become a world leader in cheap and ubiquitous solar panels for the masses? was explored The Early Show reaches a very different audience."
That rebuilding the New Orleans river delta should be written about by a Diarist monikered distraught seems highly appropriate somehow: "On Monday, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, there was a session on how to model the reconstruction of river deltas. This is a topic of great importance for the future of New Orleans because, as we know, the loss of the wetlands in the Mississippi delta results in a worse storm surge. I didn't attend, nor do I know much about the topic, but ScienceNOW Daily News published an on-line article on February 18th, which described new research that should help bolster funding to man made projects that help nature rebuild the delta."
spotDawa had a go at Predicting the Green Bubble: "Of course, alternative energy is a great, great idea. But the fact remains, the global economy, and our part of it in particular, runs on bubbles. Hm, sounds like some kind of hydrogen application. But this article in Harper's fleshes out the idea in an excellent way, and explains the bubble phenomenon with an analysis of the two most recent: dot bomb and finance/real estate. But like me, the author sees alternative energy as the most likely next bubble in the froth. So I'd like to take it a bit further, and see how it might play out."
TRANSPORTATION
Railroad expert BruceMcF pushed one of his favorite projects in Hillary, ride Electric Rail to a Comeback Station: "In brief, the policy proposal is Marrying Stranded Wind and Freight Rail Electrification – The Federal Government invests in publicly owned infrastructure to electrify the main freight railroad network: * In return, the owners of the right of way cede use of the right of way above the part that they need to public use, together with access to the ground level right of way for support structures; * That right of way is used to establish long distance High Voltage DC trunk lines to bring sustainable energy from the places that have it to places the need it; * In areas where there is a commercial wind resource, the usage rights above those trunk lines are available to be leased out for wind farm operators, with the lease payments rolled back into the funding for the program."
NNadir took on the auto industry again in If You Let Me Keep My Car, I'll Stop Drinking. I Promise: "When I'm not beating up on fundie anti-nukes - a fundie is a person whose opinion is immutable no matter how much science (or other information) with which they are confronted - I like to beat up on the car industry, which I consider being not only unnecessary but also toxic. Putting it all together, if the car industry were required to meet the same standards for environmental impact that the nuclear industry is required to meet - and does meet - the car industry would be shut down tomorrow. That's right folks. Most of you would have to find another way to get to work. Me too."
WATER & SUSTAINABILITY
Praying for rain didn't work- Ga will steal Tn water now was atlliberal’s acerbic look at little-heralded failure: "Our first Republican governor in 100 years decided the best way to prepare the state for the drought was to go to the capitol steps and pray for rain. That didn't work.(who could've guessed?) The legislature, now run by Republicans has decided to simply move the Georgia border 1 mile north into Tennesee so they can have access to the Tennesee river."
sarahnity made suggestions for getting to and staying at the Netroots Nation hullaballoo next summer in Frugal Fridays: Austin Bound - Ride and Room Share: "I'm sure many of you are going to be going to Netroots Nation in Austin this year, so I wanted to take today to talk about some frugal ideas on how to get there and where to stay while you're there. If you are looking for a roommate or a ride, use the comment section to try to make contact with others in the same boat. Of course there is no guarantee by me, Daily Kos or Netroots Nation that any arrangements you make here will be to your complete satisfaction. Use your own judgment. This diary is just devoted to getting to town and getting settled. I'll call on one or more of the local residents to do one on fun things to see and do and good places to eat and drink in a few months. Before you actually hit the road, be sure to check out the diary on frugal travel from a few months ago and don't miss out on the comments, there were lots of good ideas there too."
michlawa2 warned about the Elephant in the room: Population Explosion a bigger threat to life on Earth than Global Warming: "Political discussion involving population growth does not exist in the presidential primaries. I'm a chronic MSM watcher/reader and its never discussed. Global warming, while a real threat, is a much more fashionable topic. Global warming is frankly a symptom of the larger disease that is plaguing the planet; too many humans. ...Whether the carrying capacity of the Earth is a dystopian 40 billion or 2 billion, one thing is absolutely not in dispute: the more humans there are on the planet the more damage is done to the ecosystem and quality of life of humans."
JLowe wrote about GEOblogging – an Introduction to the Global Environmental Outlook report: "Natural resources and ecosystems underpin all our hopes for a better world. These words, from the recently-issued UNEP Global Environmental Outlook GEO 4 report, should be tattooed mirror-wise on the foreheads of every politician and on every officer of suitably large corporations, so they can see them when they get up and look in the mirror every morning."